Parachute carrier for kites



ay W, 19%.. E. w. CUTSHALL ZW 'L PARACHUTE CARRIER FOR KITES Filed Aug.30, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet .l

Inventm' ET awma May l9, RQM

E. W. CUTSHALL $941,233

PARACHUTE CARRIER FOR KI'IES 2 Sheets$heet 2 Filed Aug. 50, 1934 Inventm Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to and has for its object the provision of animproved device for carrying a parachute. up to a kite, such devicebeing adapted to travel along the kite string, being moved upwardlyalong the string of the kite by the force of the wind, and which istripped and automatically returned by gravity to the flier.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be bestunderstood from a study of the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the application of theinvention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the carrier.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the carrier.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the folding wings of the carrier.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that thecarrier indicated generally by the reference numeral 5 comprises a frameformed from a single length of wire bent to provide a substantiallyelongated U 6, the legs 1 and 8 of which are bent laterally in reversedirection as at l and 8' and terminate in upstanding posts la, 8a. Theposts 1a, 8a terminate in elongated loops lb, 8b in which are secured,in the case of the loop lb, a pair of eyelets 9, I and the case of theloop 812 three eyelets 9a, Illa, and. II, respectively.

As shown in Figure 3 the leg I has its lateral bend spaced downwardlyfrom the lateral bend of the leg 8 and is looped about the leg!) asshown.

Carried by the leg 8 of the U 6 are foldable wings I2, there beingprovided for each wing a U-shaped frame I3 formed from a single piece ofwire the sides of which at the open end of the U are looped to form eyesfor pivotally connecting the frame to the leg 8.

Forming a wind surface for the wings I2 is a sheet I4 of paper the endportions of which are folded and united to the main body portion of thepaper in a manner to provide pockets I receiving the frame as clearlyshown in Figure 4. Between the pockets the paper I4 is adhesivelysecured to the leg I completing the hinge connection between the wingsand the U member 6.

A trigger I 6 formed from a single length of wire is slidable throughthe eyes 9 and 9a and at one end is provided with a down-turned loopIlia while at a relatively opposite end the trigger I6 is bent intoU-form to provide an integral sliding latch l6b that is slidable throughthe eye I I, said eye II forming a keeper for the latch. The portion ofthe latch connecting the latch I6b with the main part of the trigger I6is arcuately curved to clear the kite string I! which is threadedthrough the eyes I0, Illa and the loop 5 or eye Ilia provided on thetrigger I6.

As is thought apparent, in operation the carrier, in starting positionis at the lower end' of the kite cord I1. The parachute I8 is suspendedby its usual cord from the latch I6 and the wings 10 I2 are normallyretained in extended position, that is in a position substantially atright angles to the lateral projections 1, 8' through the medium ofcords I9 which at one end are connected to the wings I2 at the uppercorners of the free ends of the wings, the cords I9 having free endsprovided with loopsthat are engaged with the latch I 6b as clearly shownin Figures 1 and 2. In this connection it will also be noted that withthe cords I9 and parachute I8 engaged with the latch l6b the latter isin closed position, that is, in a position engaging the eye II.

Thus under action of the wind the carrier is propelled upwardly on thekite cord I1 until the eye equipped end Ilia of the trigger It engages 5an abutment 20 provided on the kite cord IT in suitable proximity to thekite 2|. When the eye I6a of the trigger I6 strikes the abutment 20,which latter may be in the nature of a cork or the like the latch l6bmoves to the left in Figure 3 resulting in a disengagement of the latchl6b from the eye II, or in other words, in a movement of the latch I 61)to open position. Upon the opening of the latch l6b in the manner justexplained the parachute I8 will be released as will also the cords I9.With the cords I9 thus released the wings I2 under pressure of the windare swung to the folded position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 andare thence no longer responsive to the action of the wind, with theresult that under the action of gravity the carrier is permitted todescend along the kite cord I! back to the flier.

The device is now ready for the elevation and 5 release of a secondparachute or the like, it being apparent that upon the elevation of eachsuccessive article or parachute the above operation will be repeated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:-

with reversely extending projections terminatv ing in upstanding loops,the loops at the terminus of one of said legs being of greater lengththan the loop at the terminus of the other of said legs, threevertically aligned eyelets in the first named loop, a pair of verticallyaligned eyelets in the second named loop, the lowermost eyelet of saidpair and the intermediate eyelet of said three eyelets adapted to havethe kite cord threaded therethrough, a trigger member 10 slidablethrough the uppermost eyelets in the loops and having an integral latchmember slidable in the lowermost one of said three eyelets, wingshingedly mounted to one of the legs of said U-shaped part of the frameand strings secured to said wings and adapted to be looped over thelatch member whereby longitudinal movement of the trigger will releasethe strings permitting a folding of the wings for the return of thecarrier.

ELLSWORTH W. CUTSHALL.

